English Version

Lithuanian traditional Christmas song

Phonetic transcription

 There is a bonfire

Behind the woods

Ei, Kaleda, Kaleda

Around the bonfire

Horses were grazing

And brothers were looking after them

Ei, Kaleda, Kaleda

The brothers fall asleep

The horses ran away

Ei, Kaleda, Kaleda

They ran away to their father‘s manor house

Ei, Kaleda, Kaleda

Father‘s coachman

Came along

Ei, Kaleda, Kaleda

What did you bring,

My brothers?

Presents for boys and girls

Už girių girių
Ugnelė degė
Ei
Kalėda
Kalėda
Pas tą ugnelę
Broliai žirgus ganė
Ei
Kalėda
Kalėda
Broliai pamigo
Žirgai pabėgo
Ei
Kalėda
Kalėda
O ir nubėgo
Į tėvo dvarą
Ei
Kalėda
Kalėda
Atvažiav' važiai
Tėvulio važiai
Ei
Kalėda
Kalėda
Oi ką parvešit
Manį brolaliai
Ei
Kalėda
Kalėda
Baltų bliedynų
Mergom prausynų
Ei
Kalėda
Kalėda

Good evening, noble men and noble women,

if you wish we can sing here at your noble house about the birth of Christ,

Christ is born in Bethlehem today 

the skies are filled with joy, the whole creation is rejoicing

Get us a basket of chestnuts, a basket of walnuts and

get us some sweet wine for the lads to drink. 

If you wish, my lovely white dove 

open your door to us to greet you "good evening"

Καλήν εσπέραν άρχοντες, αν είναι ορισμός σας 
Χριστού τη θεία Γέννηση να πω στ' αρχοντικό σας.
Χριστός γεννάται σήμερον εν Βηθλεέμ τη πόλη 
οι ουρανοί αγάλλονται χαίρετ' η κτίσις όλη.

Φέρε πανιέρι κάστανα, πανιέρι λεπτοκάρυα 
και φέρε και γλυκό κρασί να πιουν τα παλληκάρια
Κι αν είναι με το θέλημα άσπρη μου περιστέρα, 
Ανοίξετε την πόρτα σας να πούμε «καλησπέρα».

kalin esperan arhontes,

an ine orismos sas

Christou ti thia yenisi

na po sto archontiko.

Christos yenate simeron en vithleem ti poli

i urani agalonte 

herete i fisis oli

Jingles, jingles sleigh bell,

 snow so tender, snow so tender.

Jingles, jingles sleigh bell,

woods and land are beaming.

Sleighs are passing along the wintry roads,

across the bog and pasture, across the meadow.

Jingles, jingles sleigh bell,

snow so tender, snow so tender.

Jingles, jingles sleigh bell,

woods and land are beaming.

Lights are twinkling on the wintry viallage road, 

happy holidays everywhere, across the land.

Jingles, jingles sleigh bell,

snow so tender, snow so tender.

Jingles, jingles sleigh bell,

woods and land are beaming.